Court of Sunder (Age of Angels #2) - Milana Jacks Page 0,36

me. He opened the lid. Boiled eggs. Bacon. Steak. My mouth watered at my favorite breakfast, which I ate only on holidays. “Is today a holiday?”

“Oh Mickey, why, oh why do they follow you?” Lucifer sighed. “No, girl, today is not a holiday. It is a normal day in a normal Court.”

I grabbed the utensils, then flipped the knife a few times, thinking of jabbing it into his jugular.

“Please do not try to kill me with a blunt knife. When you miss and I return the favor, Ralphy will get all bent out of shape and blame me for your stupidity.”

I stood. “The commander will behead you.”

Lucifer laughed.

Raphael tapped the plate. “Sit, eat, and ignore him.”

“Not possible,” Lucifer said. “She has a pulse and a womb.”

“Enough,” Raphael said. He poured apple juice into a glass, then placed a white flower I couldn’t name in a little vase. Before my eyes, the white flower sucked up the violet water and changed its color to purple. I glanced up at Raphael, knowing the symbolic nature of this seemingly unimportant task.

“I will return shortly and join you.” He ascended, and so did Lucifer.

I remained standing. “I want to know what’s happening, Raphael. Why Lucifer walks your Court as if he belongs here when we all know he belongs behind the Veil. I won’t be kept in the dark wrapped in silk dresses and tucked in the safety of your bedroom. I’m not that girl.”

I knew my words would stick in his head for a bit, then vanish shortly after. After all, I was a mortal, and my place was somewhere between his wing and his dick. So when he landed, he surprised me.

Chapter 14

Knowing that memories of the Before plagued her and having her near Lucifer made my feathers stand on end. Not to mention, the conversation between Lucifer and me would surely displease her, and if Michael’s spies were sneaking around my Court, they’d hear the conversation. Still, Nevaeh was not a willowy flower, and she deserved to hear this conversation. At least some of it.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Lucifer said, hovering over the garden.

I stood closer to Nevaeh as he descended, dramatically falling onto the grass and sprawling on the grass as if he were a wounded soldier. He turned on his side and propped his body up on his elbow. “We are to share this chat with a mortal. Why? Do you need counsel?”

“She will listen and not interrupt.” I directed a pointed look at her. Lucifer was a master manipulator, so everything that came out of my mouth would be filtered and carefully crafted. Silence was her best weapon against him. “Yes?” I bit out when she didn’t respond.

She saluted. “Yes, sir.”

I pinched my lips.

Lucifer laughed. “I like her.”

“Dislike her, forget you ever saw her, and conclude your visit.”

He picked at the grass. “I’m sure you’ve been briefed on what transpired in your Court during your imprisonment. I’m also sure you know that if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have landed in your city. It would have been occupied by your own people, who would have taken advantage of your weakened state and tried to eliminate you.”

“Thank you, brother.” From his brief take on the situation, I deduced he’d influenced the quarrel between my lieutenants, who then fought and split my Court, leaving Sunder City for my return. He’d preserved my place so I’d owe him.

Lucifer lifted his gaze. “Welcome. What is the reward for all my hard work?”

“I have suspended supplies of both medical and food to the Court of Command and withdrawn my people and power from the Restraining Veil. The Veil will weaken.”

He snorted. “I escaped the Veil, so it was already weak. And Michael will either come demanding supplies or he will simply take your Court. So neither of those things is a payment to me.”

“I promised you sanctuary, and you have it.”

“I created my own sanctuary, seeing as you were not here.” He lifted his shirt to show me fresh stab wounds. “Ariel is dead.”

“She is immortal.”

“Not anymore.”

Refusing to show surprise and sorrow for her final death, I schooled my expression. “You are playing with souls?”

“I am.”

“It is forbidden.”

“Not to me.”

“Lucifer, there are things even you aren’t meant to touch.”

“What things? I need goals.”

“Stop it!” I slammed my hand on the table.

Lucifer rose. Instead of stepping behind me, Nevaeh stepped protectively in front of me. Before I could correct this behavior, Lucifer smirked. He’d caught her gesture, and he wouldn’t forget